Generation of widely tunable nanosecond pulses in the vibrational infrared by stimulated Raman scattering from the cesium 6s-5d transition.

The first reported use of a pulsed rhodamine-dye laser to generate widely tunable nanosecond light pulses in the vibrational infrared by stimulated electronic Raman scattering is discussed. Narrow-band pulses of up to 120 microJ were generated from 3450 to 900 cm(-1) (2.9 to 11.1 microm), and broadband pulses up to 75 microJ were generated from 3390 to 1800 cm(-1) (2.9 to 5.5 microm) by scattering from the 6s-5d transition in cesium vapor. Cesium dimer effects on tuning-curve structure and efficiency are discussed.